Iran’s Gas Centrifuge Program: Taking Stock

Posted by Matt in February 11th, 2010 | no comment

Published in Iran, Nuclear, Appendix, Atomic Energy Agency, Enrichment Plant, First Principles, Fuel Enrichment, Gas Centrifuge, International Atomic Energy, International Atomic Energy Agency, International Atomic Energy Agency Iaea, Iran, Leu, natanz, Nuclear Power Reactor, Optimal Performance, Performance Implications, Performance Reasons, Public Information, Safeguards, Several Thousand, Stock Table, Taking Stock, Uranium

Table of Contents
1. Understanding Enrichment at Natanz
2. First Principles
3. More advanced centrifuges coming? A secret site?
4. Natanz and the P1 Centrifuge
5. Separative Capacity of Iran’s P1 Centrifuge
6. Building a Centrifuge Plant
7. LEU Production
8. Taking Stock, Analyzing FEP Performance
9. Reasons for Sub-Optimal Performance
10. Implications on the Fordow Enrichment Site
11. Findings and Conclusion
12. Figures and Tables
13. Appendix: [...]

Can Iran produce 20 percent-enriched uranium?

Posted by Matt in February 8th, 2010 | 1 comment

Published in Iran, Nuclear, Centrifuge Equipment, centrifuges, defiance, Enrichment Plant, Enrichment Plants, Fuel Enrichment, Fuel Rods, Grade Material, Heu, Inefficiencies, Intelligence Services, Iran Iran, Leu, Reactor, Small Quantities, Stockpile, Technical Prowess, U 235, Uranium, Weapon Grade

Yes. Though Iran may encounter some challenges, it is technically equipped to produce 19.75 percent enriched uranium at the Natanz Fuel Enrichment Plant (note, any uranium enriched to under 20 percent U-235 is classified by the IAEA as LEU; uranium enriched to 20 percent or greater is classified as high enriched uranium (HEU).
If Iran were [...]

DEBKAfile – Ahmadinejad taunts Israel, says Iran will enrich uranium to 20 percent

Posted by Matt in December 2nd, 2009 | no comment

Published in Iran, Censure, defiance, Enrichment Plant, Enrichment Plants, Iran, Iranian President Mahmoud, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, Israel, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, Taunts, tehran, Uranium, Watchdog

Iranian president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said Wednesday, Dec. 2, that Iran will enrich uranium to 20 percent. His latest show of defiance, focusing on the US and Israel, follows Tehran’s announcement of plans to build another 10 enrichment plants capable of producing 300 tons of enriched uranium a year in response to the UN nuclear watchdog’s [...]

U.S. and Allies Warn Iran Over Secret Nuclear Site ‘Deception’ – NYTimes.com

Posted by Matt in September 25th, 2009 | no comment

Published in Iran, Allies, Confrontation, Enrichment Plant, International Inspections, Iran Nuclear, Leverage, Nuclear Enrichment, Nuclear Plant, Nytimes, Obama, Pitch, Revelation, tehran

President Obama and his allies raced Friday to use their revelation of a secret Iranian nuclear enrichment plant as long-sought leverage against Tehran, demanding that the country allow highly intrusive international inspections and propelling the confrontation with Tehran to a new and volatile pitch.
U.S. and Allies Warn Iran Over Nuclear ‘Deception’ – NYTimes.com

I.A.E.A. Reports Iranian Nuclear Progress

Posted by Matt in June 5th, 2009 | no comment

Published in Iran, Nuclear, Atomic Energy Agency, Centrifuge, centrifuges, Containment, David Albright, Enriching Uranium, Enrichment Plant, Fep, Fuel Enrichment, Hexafluoride, International Atomic Energy, International Atomic Energy Agency, International Atomic Energy Agency Iaea, IR-2, IR-3, IR-4, Leu, Nuclear Fuel, Nuclear Weapons, Reactor, Security Council Resolutions, Shire, Surveillance Measures

A week before Iran’s presidential election, atomic inspectors reported Friday that the country has sped up its production of nuclear fuel and increased its number of installed centrifuges to 7,200 — more than enough, weapon experts said, to make fuel for up to two nuclear weapons a year, if the country decided to use its [...]